Support for the Journey...

THE MATTER 

OF A GAS CARD

Lisa Manzini-Pace, LCSW

   Hope Cancer Resources    

The patient was tall and solid with a weathered and wise face.  He asked for the Social Worker after finishing his chemo treatment at the oncology clinic.  He drove to his daily treatments  from somewhere well into Oklahoma.  The previous week he had called in advance and a gas card had been left at the reception desk.  This no nonsense man had anticipated the same thing this week.

The social worker invited him to her small office in the clinic and explained that a gas card could be given to him in person as well.  The patient indicated that time was an important factor and asked again about how to arrange for it in advance.   He sat for a while after having been issued the gas card.  The social worker asked him a little about himself.  He wasn’t a big talker but indicated that his wife had severe medical issues and would soon require surgery in Fayetteville.  They commiserated on the complexities of health and medical care.  The man had a pleasant sense of humor and they laughed a little.

Each week on the same day he would ask to see the social worker for his gas card.  She learned where he was from originally, the work he had done, about his family and more.  He was not a natural talker but seemed to enjoy the little chats.  The social worker found them pleasant as well.  He liked to laugh despite the hardships of his situation.

In later visits the patient confided that his wife wasn’t doing well.  He, however, appeared to bear up quite well despite his treatments.  They talked about the news.  It had been a turbulent couple of weeks in the nation and the world.

                

Last week the patient asked the social worker if something was wrong.  This surprised her because there had been a serious occurrence but she felt she had concealed her sadness.  She explained about the death of a young man, a senseless and tragic event.  The patient nodded with understanding.   He knew about loss.  He had been in Vietnam.  His kindness was apparent.  He later confided that his wife’s situation was even more complicated.  The social worker offered reassurance and walked him out.  As he was leaving, the man turned back with a sad smile and said, “See you next week.”

The Wheels on the Van

It's easy to think that the most difficult part of a battle with cancer is the physical condition that some of the treatments can leave you in. And, for many people, that is certainly the case. Chemotherapy can make you sick, radiation can leave you with uncomfortable rashes that make even the most comfortable clothing in your closet painful to wear. Both forms of treatment cause fatigue that there is simply no cure for except the end of treatment.

But for many people in Northwest Arkansas the first hurdle to be cleared when discussing a treatment plan with their oncologist is figuring out how they will even get to their appointments in order to begin the fight. Some patients may not be able to drive as a result of their disease, others because of treatment side-effects. Friends and family may only be able to help for a short time or on a limited basis. With chemotherapy appointments scheduled every few weeks and radiation plans typically requiring a patient to visit the clinic five days a week for 5-7 weeks, transportation becomes one of the primary obstacles for patients as they go through treatment. Patients can not fight their cancer if they are unable to get to the clinic.

At Hope Cancer Resources we have three vehicles in our transportation program. Our drivers drive hundreds of miles every weekday to provide the support necessary to make sure that treatment plans are carried out as prescribed.

In the first four months of 2012, our drivers put over 54,000 miles on our vehicles and made 927 trips. That's 10,000 miles more than this time two years ago. Sometimes a trip is only a few miles. Other times a driver could be gone all day picking up and taking home to towns in Oklahoma or Carroll county. In 2011, the total miles logged by our vehicles came in at just over 129,000. That's a lot of time behind a wheel, and a lot of doctor's visits that weren't missed. That's a lot of hope given.

If you or someone you know would benefit from transportation assistance, or if you'd like to make a donation to support the program, please contact us.

Join us for the Battle!!

We're taking it to the streets! Our annual Heather Ridley-Fleeman Battle for Hope fundraising event is May 5th - only a few weeks away - and we want you to join us!

The Heather Ridley-Fleeman Battle for Hope was created by the family and friends of a lovely young woman who fought a brave battle of her own. She was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in her 20s, and lost her fight at the age of 28. The importance of early detection, knowledge of risk factors, and understanding of symptoms is a major part of this event that raises money to support Hope Cancer Resources' Save-A-Life program. 

We shared some info recently on colorectal cancer, including the good news that colonoscopies are saving lives. The bad news is, not everyone is able to afford a colonoscopy. Some insurance plans will not cover the procedure in individuals under the age of 50 (when regular colonoscopies for people at average risk are recommended to begin). But even with insurance coverage, a co-pay can amount to several hundred dollars.

Our Save-A-Life program provides assistance for screening and diagnostic tests, including colonoscopies and other colorectal-associated procedures, for uninsured and under-insured individuals in Northwest Arkansas with a physician's referral. These tests provide access to early detection, which offers a better chance for a cure should cancer be diagnosed. Without our assistance, some patients would not be able to get the tests they need in a timely manner, putting them at risk for a late-stage diagnosis with a lower chance for successful treatment.

Registration for the Battle for Hope is available online through the website. You can register yourself, or sign up as a member of a team to run (10k or 5k) or walk (5k or 1 mile). But if none of those options are appealing (we know not everyone is eager to get up early on a Saturday morning) you can still help by purchasing raffle tickets or tribute signs. The signs will line the courses on race day in honor or in memory of loved ones who have fought or are fighting cancer. Raffle tickets will give you a chance to win some very nice prizes - including a watch from Blakeman's Fine Jewelers, tickets to a show at Walton Arts Center, and gift baskets from local businesses. Best of all, you don't have to be present to win! A list of all the businesses donating prizes and raffle items for the event is located on the race website here, and our awesome event sponsors are here.

The deadline for signing up your team or purchasing tribute signs is April 20th - so don't delay! The first 400 to register will also receive a goody bag containing some nice coupons and freebies - and while the race shirt is always free with registration, sizes are limited after the 20th.

We hope to see you on May 5th!

Our Mission in Northwest Arkansas

We provide compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow.

While our mission statement does state exactly what we do, it doesn't provide much detail. So here is more information about the role we play in Northwest Arkansas in keeping our neighbors healthy and supporting those who need a little help as they battle a cancer diagnosis.


Health Education Services
On any given day it seems there is a story in the news about cancer research, new treatments or screenings, and new theories on how to prevent cancer by changing your lifestyle. It would be a challenge for any one person to keep up, so we provide the latest information through our Cancer Prevention & Education staff.

Hope Cancer Resources employs two Certified Health Education Specialists who provide cancer prevention education at no cost to employers, schools, churches, businesses and civic organizations in Northwest Arkansas. Prevention education can be tailored to the needs of the group requesting our services, and can include breast self-examination instruction, skin wellness, informational seminars on the basics of cancer and tobacco cessation. Our programs are designed to be age-appropriate for all groups from elementary schools to retirement communities. Individual tobacco cessation counseling is also available with our certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist in a six-week long one-on-one program. For more information or to set up a cancer education seminar or counseling session contact Casey Shelor, M.S., CHES, CTTS at 479-361-5847 or by email. 

In addition to prevention education, our Save-A-Life program provides assistance to the underserved and uninsured (based on financial need) for screening and diagnostic tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate and skin cancers. Throughout the year, with the assistance of local physicians who volunteer their time, we also hold free prostate (September) and skin cancer (April) screenings and provide free colon/rectal screening kits (March). These programs provide access to early detection, thereby offering a better chance for successful treatment and recovery. For more information, contact Christina Bostian at 479-361-5847 or by email.
For some individuals with a family history of cancer, a hereditary risk consultation may be in their best interest. Consultation is available to discuss risk factors for pertinent cancers. For more information or to set up a personal and confidential appointment, contact Sandy Prince at 479-361-5847 or by email. Patient Support Services When a cancer patient visits their oncologist for the first time, the experience can be a welcome relief, but it can also be a source of great stress and anxiety. All too often, the physical effects of cancer are only a part of the whole picture. Worries about finances, family, side-effects of treatment, and even death can be overwhelming to the point that treatment may seem unbearable and recovery unreachable. Our licensed Social Workers meet with patients and their caregivers - usually on the patient's very first visit to the oncology clinic - to determine what challenges they might face during their treatments. They address those that can be lessened or avoided with our assistance and refer patients to other resources as necessary. Our social workers are allies who are available to be called on as often as necessary on the journey toward recovery. Some of the services we provide include: Transportation – Our drivers provide rides in Hope Cancer Resources' vehicles to and from treatment and other cancer-related medical appointments when a patient is unable to drive. Prescription Assistance – We assist with the purchase of cancer-related prescriptions and will help find long-term drug assistance through pharmaceutical company assistance programs whenever possible. Emergency Assistance – We provide direct, temporary assistance to cancer patients who are struggling financially due to their treatment, including payments for housing and/or transportation needs as well as dental needs associated with their cancer diagnosis. Emotional Assistance - Licensed social workers help patients and caregivers cope with emotional distress. We offer counseling, education and information on support groups offered in our community, including those facilitated by our staff. Spanish Interpretation - Our Spanish interpreter is available to assist patients during appointments as requested by patients and their caregivers. Contact Kathy Taylor at 479-361-5847 or by email.  We are grateful for the support of our community and for our staff who provide such outstanding care. For more information on our services or how you can be involved, contact us at 479-361-5847.

Making an Impact

In the busy world we live in it is often easy to ignore the possibility of a sudden onset of illness. It is easy to under-appreciate the job we go to Monday-Friday each week and our paycheck that may not provide us with a lot of luxuries, but at least pays the bills. It is easy to assume that you will continue to be able to walk out to your car, turn the key, and drive where ever you need to go. Until you are actually faced with a diagnosis of cancer, it is simply too easy to pretend that it will never happen to you or someone you love.

But for many cancer patients, their illness is almost all they can think about. The "normal" stuff of life like bills and groceries take a back seat at times. At Hope Cancer Resources, our mission is simple: We provide compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow. Every day, we meet new patients at Highlands Oncology clinics in Washington and Benton counties. And every day someone finds out, after speaking to our staff, that a seemingly insurmountable obstacle might be smaller than they originally thought. We thought the holiday season would be a good time to share some of their stories.

E. is an fifty something breast cancer survivor. Over a period of about six years she has nursed two aging parents, lost one to illness, and experienced a double mastectomy herself as a result of her cancer diagnosis. Prior to her reconstructive surgery, E. experienced some not unexpected anxiety. As an independent and self-reliant woman, she was reluctant to share these feelings with friends. As her surgery drew near, she visited with one of our social workers and explored a number of the issues provoking her anxieties. According to her counselor, their sessions were tinged with poignant revelations and considerable humor. About two months after her surgery, E. made the following comment at the end of the session. “I like coming here. I’ve noticed that we don’t talk about my cancer anymore. We talk about life.” E. fully embraced all aspects of her life. Cancer was just one of them.

A 15-month-old child was diagnosed with cancer and the mother was required to take her child to Little Rock for treatments. One morning, when she was preparing to leave for Little Rock for an appointment, her car would not start. She quickly worked to find out if the car could be repaired and was told a part would have to be ordered. Desperate to get her baby to the appointment, she called us. We were able to help her rent a car for the trip and pay for fuel that day so the family could get to the appointment.

M. is a 45 year old woman that we met after her diagnosis of colon cancer. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury several years before and had been forced to go on disability as a result. Her husband was also out of work due to being laid off his job of many years. Due to the couple living on a very limited income they were concerned about the cost of driving the 100-mile round trip for the numerous doctor appointments, scans and chemo treatments that would be required for her treatment. Our social worker was able to provide the couple with fuel assistance to and from these appointments which helped ease the financial strain caused by the patient’s illness. The social worker continued to check in with the couple as they were suffering from emotional distress as well. The patient’s husband shared that his wife enjoyed these conversations and even looked forward to them as she was isolated due to her illness. After the patient finished her treatment the couple expressed their extreme gratitude not only for the financial support, but also the emotional support provided by the social worker and the entire Hope Cancer Resources team.

A 1-year-old boy diagnosed was with a fast-growing, highly malignant tumor. A social worker at Arkansas Children's Hospital gave our phone number to his grandparents - his legal guardians - as they were in need of financial assistance. The grandmother had recently lost her job due to the amount of time she needed to take off work to drive to Little Rock for her grandson's treatments. Recently, the grandfather was laid off and has been on unemployment looking for another job. They were starting to fall behind on bills and needed assistance. The grandfather told our social worker that the biggest needs were rent, car payment, utilities and food. We referred him to local food pantries for essential items, and we assisted with their rent, car payment, a water bill and gasoline to help them get the child to his medical appointments in Little Rock.

Gifts made to Hope Cancer Resources throughout the year - no matter the size - all contribute to the success of these patients and hundreds of others who turn to us when they need assistance as they undertake one of the most difficult journeys of their lives: the journey toward becoming a Cancer Survivor.

$10 pays for a necessary prescription. $25 provides a gasoline card to a patient who might not get to their treatment without it. $50 pays a water bill. $100 pays a gas bill. $250 provides a car payment. $500 pays a mortgage for a month. Every dollar of every gift is put directly to use in Northwest Arkansas, allowing us to assist patients and their families with our no-cost services throughout the year.

Since January of this year, we have made an impact on the financial and emotional well-being of over 2,000 individuals in our community.

• Prescription assistance in the amount of $40,749 provided directly, with additional assistance valued at $156.244 offered through pharmaceutical companies.
• Emergency financial assistance in the amount of $169,934 provided to patients to pay for utilities, rent/mortgages, and car payments.
• $52,395 in gas cards distributed to patients to help with travel to and from appointments.
• Our Save-A-Life program provided 503 cancer screenings valued at $318,301 to uninsured and under-insured patients whose physicians ordered procedures they could not afford.
• 537 hours of Spanish interpretation services were provided to Spanish-speaking patients at medical appointments related to their cancer diagnosis.
• Our transportation service drove patients 119,608 miles to and from their appointments.

We hope that as you consider your charitable giving for 2012, you will put Hope Cancer Resources on your list. Whether it be a one-time gift or a recurring monthly donation, we - and the people we serve - are truly grateful for your generosity. We do what we do because of donors like you, and for patients like these: 

“Hope Cancer Resources went above and beyond when helping me. I can’t think of a single thing you could have done to make me feel any more important, personal, loved and taken care of.”

Story of Hope - Kyle Slone

When Natalie Slone walked through the front door of her new home in June of 2009, she was feeling good. As a single mom of four kids, she had worked hard to become a homeowner on one income. Her career as a photographer was going well, and she was feeling settled and optimistic.

Then, in October, Natalie's employer informed her through tears that he had to lay her off. She understood, but knew it was going to be tough. She started looking for a new job and relied on her savings and unemployment to pay the bills.

Fast-forward to a day in late December: Natalie's 14-year-old son, Kyle, complained of a mysterious pain. He was uncomfortable, but still managed to spend some time with friends that evening. The next day, he claimed the pain was so bad he couldn't get out of bed. Natalie's intuition told her something was really wrong. She picked him up after work and took him to the hospital, where the journey began.

Two days before Christmas, Kyle - an otherwise healthy, outgoing teenage boy - was diagnosed with cancer. The decision was made to manage the tumor with surgery and avoid chemo or radiation therapy. Natalie says she thought were "good to go." But, nine months later, a follow-up CT scan discovered activity in his lymph nodes as well. A course of chemotherapy was scheduled.

After two months of chemotherapy, the lymph nodes had not shrunk to the size the doctors were hoping for, and it was speculated that a risky surgical procedure might be necessary to remove the affected chemo-resistant nodes. In addition to the risk-factor of the surgery, it was not going to be covered by ARKids, the medical insurance coverage that Kyle had. Natalie had a lot to worry about.

Finally, after almost a year into the battle, the family saw a glimmer of hope. On the third visit to meet with surgeons, scans showed that the nodes in question had decreased in size and were no longer the threat they had been. The decision was made to continue to watch it closely but to cancel the surgery.

Enola Bunton, patient advocate at Hope Cancer Resources, introduced Natalie to our patient assistance programs and began the process of applying for emergency financial assistance. Enola kept in close contact with Natalie throughout the course of Kyle's treatment and recovery, and we were able to offer gas cards for travel as well as help with two mortgage payments. Natalie says "It was fantastic to have her call and check on things." Without the financial assistance we were able to provide, she thinks they would have lost their home.

Today, Kyle is a healthy 16-year-old. He has learned to drive, is growing back the hair he lost to chemotherapy, and making up for a missed semester of high school. He gets monthly CT scans for now, but will celebrate one year post-treatment in November.

And, every day, he gets to walk through the front door of the home his mom worked so hard to provide.

If you or someone you know is undergoing cancer treatments and is having a hard time making ends meet, please contact us for more information on our patient assistance programs at 479-361-5847.

Mid-Year Update!

It's easy to make goals for the coming year and start plugging away at our to-do lists and find, rather suddenly, that we're half-way through the year. For the staff of Hope Cancer Resources, the mid-year report is a good reminder of the impact that our programs are having on our friends and neighbors in Northwest Arkansas. These numbers remind us of the importance of our mission, and keep us fired up to do what we are lucky enough to do every day.

Take a look at what we've been up to since January...

• provided over $20,000.00 in direct prescription assistance and helped patients receive over $79,000.00 in assistance from pharmaceutical companies;
• provided $85,651.00 of financial assistance with a 13-month average of over $14,000.00 a month;
• distributed over $24,000.00 in gasoline cards to patients who need help with transportation costs for travel to treatment;
• assessed the needs of 749 newly-diagnosed cancer patients;
• provided $70,500.00 worth of emotional support through various forms of  counseling and support groups;
• provided 256 hours of Spanish interpretation;
• facilitated over 2,200 volunteer hours in local oncology clinics and at supporting events.

 Last week, a new Highlands Oncology Group clinic was opened in Rogers. It's a beautiful building with additional exam rooms, an amazing chemotherapy suite, and other perks like a big resource room that will be maintained by our volunteers. Until now, we have only been able to meet one-on-one with new patients who were being treated at the Fayetteville facility, so we're excited to see what this new space will mean for our ability to reach more people who need us. We believe it will reinforce what we have known all along - we will be providing compassionate, professional cancer support and education in the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow.

Another year...

Anticipating the end of the calendar year tends to make people look back and count their blessings. Some are thankful to be moving forward into another year riding high on their successes. Others may be grateful to be leaving a tough year behind and getting a fresh start. For us here at Hope Cancer Resources we hope that we have given some relief to our patients, helped them get a little bit further down the road to recovery, and - as our tagline states - provided "support for the journey, education for life."

After the holidays we will give a final update of the statistics for 2010, but here's a quick sneak peek at last month's numbers:

In November 2010...

We provided transportation to medical-related appointments totaling 13,551 miles for cancer patients in Northwest Arkansas;

We distributed $16,081.38 in emergency assistance to patients in need of help paying rent/mortgage, utility bills, and transportation costs because of their medical treatment expenses;

We processed 33 new patient applications for emotional and/or financial assistance;

We provided just over a week's worth of interpretation assistance for Spanish-speaking patients.

Our staff works hard every day to fulfill our mission of providing compassionate, professional cancer support and education to Northwest Arkansas today and tomorrow. We do it because it's our passion, but we will be thrilled to see the day come when our services are no longer needed because cancer has gone the way of the plague.

Until then, notes like these from patients and their families remind us how vital our work is to our communities:

"I just wanted to say thank you to Hope Cancer Resources for all the help I've been given during my time of need. This has been the most difficult and scariest time of my life and I'm truly touched and overwhelmed by the support I've received."

"Just a card to let you know how much I appreciated your help with my prescription medicines for my chemo treatments."   

"You have been so kind and helpful. Thank you for all you have done and all you continue to do for the afflicted with such an insidious disease."

"Thank you so much for the help you gave me last month. I hope I don't have to come to you again, but it sure is good to know there is HOPE!!"

"We wanted to thank you so much for helping with our vehicle payment and the gas card you helped us with to get our daughter back to Arkansas Children's Hospital."

"I wanted to thank you for all the help over the weeks with gas cards. I live an hour away from Highlands Oncology and the gas cost quickly added up. It was a tremendous blessing and one major area not to have to worry over."

"If not for your financial assistance I, more than likely, would not have been able to receive the treatment I needed. Your help is so very much appreciated."

"Thank you again for your caring and understanding during our time of stress and confusion. Without your caring we would have had a much harder time."

"Thank you to all the staff at Hope Cancer Resources for your help and support during this time. I so appreciate the financial assistance, your ease of accessibility, and the compassionate manner in which you offer your services."

If you would like to know more about our services, volunteer opportunties, or how to support us with a donation, please visit our website or contact us at 479-361-5847.